Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet

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Stored: Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet

His Eminence Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet
Bishop of Archdiocese of Montevideo
Home diocese: Archdiocese of Montevideo
Other diocese 1:
Other diocese 2:
Other diocese 3:
Ordination: 21 November 1987 by Bishop Raúl Horacio Scarrone Carrero
Consecration: 4 March 2012 by Archbishop Nicolás Cotugno Fanizzi
Rank: Cardinal
Created cardinal: 14 February 2015 by Pope Francis
Personal details
Born: Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet
4 July 1959
Montevideo, Uruguay
Died:
Nationality: Uruguayan
Education: Instituto Teológico del Uruguay Mons. Mariano Soler, Instituto Juan XXIII
Motto: "Servite Domino in Laetitia" (Serve the Lord with Joy)
Role: Diocesan
Theology: Moderate
Region: Latin America
Rite: Roman Rite
Conclave Eligibility: Eligible


Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, SDB, born (1959-07-04) July 4, 1959 (age 66), is a Uruguayan prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as Archbishop of Montevideo since 2014 and as the second cardinal from Uruguay, elevated by Pope Francis in 2015.[1] A member of the Salesians of Don Bosco, he has focused on evangelizing youth in Uruguay’s secularized society, the least Catholic country in Latin America, while addressing social issues like poverty, gender ideology, and abortion, advocating for a Church centered on Jesus Christ and the marginalized.[2] His episcopal motto, “Servite Domino in Laetitia” (Serve the Lord with Joy), reflects his pastoral approach, shaped by Salesian spirituality and engagement with working-class communities.[3] At 65, Sturla is one of seven Latin American cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, contributing his experience in a secular context to the election of the next pope.[4]

Ordained a priest in 1987, Sturla served as a Salesian educator and novice master before becoming auxiliary bishop of Montevideo in 2011 and archbishop in 2014.[1] His rapid rise included appointments to Vatican dicasteries for Evangelization, Divine Worship, and Consecrated Life, and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, reflecting his global influence.[3] In 2015, he participated in the Synod on the Family, emphasizing family values and evangelization.[5] Despite Uruguay’s liberal laws on abortion and same-sex marriage, Sturla promotes dialogue and respect while defending traditional Catholic teachings, notably expressing concerns about gender ideology in education.[2]

Biography

Birth and early life

Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet was born on July 4, 1959, in Montevideo, Uruguay, to a middle-class Catholic family, the youngest of five children.[1] His father, a lawyer, died in 1972, and his mother, a homemaker, died in 1975, leaving his older siblings to support the family.[2] His eldest brother, Héctor Martín Sturla, served as president of Uruguay’s Chamber of Deputies until his death in 1991.[3] Raised in a church-going environment, Sturla attended the Colegio San Juan Bautista and later the Salesian-run Instituto Juan XXIII, where he discerned his vocation.[6]

In 1975, at age 15, Sturla was among Catholics abducted by soldiers in Montevideo on Good Friday, an experience that deepened his faith.[5] His early exposure to Uruguay’s secular culture and social challenges shaped his commitment to evangelizing youth and the marginalized.[2]

Education

Sturla studied at the Colegio San Juan Bautista and Instituto Juan XXIII, earning a bachelor’s degree in civil law.[6] He pursued philosophy and education sciences at the Salesian Instituto Miguel Rúa in Montevideo and theology at the Instituto Teológico del Uruguay Mons. Mariano Soler, obtaining a licentiate in theology in 2006.[1] He also studied Church history, later teaching it as a professor.[3]

His Salesian formation included a novitiate in 1979, with training focused on pastoral ministry and education.[6] Fluent in Spanish and with working knowledge of Italian, his studies prepared him for leadership in Uruguay’s challenging religious landscape.[5]

Priesthood

Sturla entered the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1979, making his first religious profession on January 31, 1980, and was ordained a priest on November 21, 1987, by Bishop Raúl Horacio Scarrone Carrero.[1] He served as vicar of the Salesian novitiate, director of the aspirantate, master of novices, and director of the Instituto Juan XXIII, while teaching Church history.[6] From 2008 to 2011, he was Salesian inspector for Uruguay and president of the Conference of Religious.[2]

His priesthood focused on youth ministry, education, and social outreach in working-class barrios, aligning with Salesian values of service and joy.[5] His leadership roles prepared him for episcopal responsibilities in Montevideo.[3]

Bishop

Appointed auxiliary bishop of Montevideo on December 10, 2011, by Pope Benedict XVI, Sturla was consecrated on March 4, 2012, by Archbishop Nicolás Cotugno Fanizzi.[7] He became Archbishop of Montevideo on February 11, 2014, receiving the pallium from Pope Francis on June 29, 2014.[1] Elevated to cardinal on February 14, 2015, he was assigned the titular church of Santa Galla.[3]

As archbishop, Sturla has promoted evangelization and social justice, serving on Vatican dicasteries and participating in the 2025 conclave, one of 135 electors from 71 countries.[4] His stance on secular issues, like gender ideology, reflects a balance of dialogue and fidelity to Church teaching.[2]

Diocese Role Start Date End Date Notes
Archdiocese of Montevideo Auxiliary Bishop 10 December 2011 11 February 2014 Titular Bishop of Phelbes
Archdiocese of Montevideo Archbishop 11 February 2014 Present Elevated to cardinal in 2015, second Uruguayan cardinal

Significant events

  • Entered Salesians of Don Bosco, 1979.[6]
  • Ordained priest, 1987.[1]
  • Appointed Salesian inspector for Uruguay, 2008.[2]
  • Named auxiliary bishop of Montevideo, 2011.[7]
  • Appointed Archbishop of Montevideo, 2014.[1]
  • Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2015.[1]
  • Participated in the 2015 Synod on the Family.[5]
  • Appointed to Pontifical Commission for Latin America, 2015.[3]
  • Named member of Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, 2020.[3]
  • Appointed to Dicastery for Divine Worship, 2022.[2]
  • Participated in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7.[4]

Books

Written about the bishop

  • No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal Sturla were identified.

Written by the bishop

  • 1916–1917: Separación de la Iglesia y el Estado en el Uruguay, Instituto Teológico del Uruguay Mariano Soler, Libro Anual, 1993.[1]
  • ¿Santa o de Turismo? Calendario y secularización en el Uruguay, Instituto Superior Salesiano, colección Proyecto Educativo, 2010.[1]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "Daniel Sturla". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Sturla. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet". The College of Cardinals Report. 2024-11-23. https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/cardinal-daniel-fernando-sturla-berhouet/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet". Vatican Press. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_sturla-berhouet_df.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope". Vatican News. 2025-04-29. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Meet the Cardinals: Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet". Salt + Light Media. 2015-02-11. https://slmedia.org/blog/meet-the-cardinals-daniel-fernando-sturla-berhouet. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Cardenal". Iglesia Católica Montevideo. 2023-08-18. https://icm.org.uy/cardenal. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Daniel Fernando Cardinal Sturla Berhouet". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bstbe.html. 
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